THE Church of Southease, though now a small building, has a very early history, and has
several remarkable features. It lies on the west bank of the Ouse, and the name signifies the
"Southern brushwood land," its prefix distinguishing it from Northease in the adjoining parish of
Rodmell. As early as the year 966, King Edgar granted or confirmed to the Abbey of St. Peter (called first Newminster and afterwards Hyde Abbey) at Winchester, the Church of Southease (Sueise) with twenty-eight hides of land, and at the time of the Domesday Survey (1086) it is stated that it had always belonged to the monastery. The church is clearly mentioned therein, and in connection with the manor were the holdings of ten burgesses in Lewes, and dues of 38,500 herrings and £4 for porpoises.
Thus Southease was connected for nearly 600 years with the famous abbey that gave burial to Alfred the Great.
